Danger-signal apparatus for mines, &amp;c.



A. GROHS.

DANGER SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR MINES, 6w.

APPLICATION FILIAJD JUNE 15, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 17 I INVENTOR WITNESSES A. GROHS.

DANGER SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR MINES, 6m.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-15, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

5 w 1 QM WITNESSES INVENTOR 4 gyms 5,

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ANTON GROHS, OF EAST PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

DANGER-SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR MINES, 8w.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application filed June 15, 1910. Serial No. 566,941.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON GRoHs, cltlzen of theUnited States of America, residing at East Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in Danger-Signal Apparatus for Mines, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a danger slgnal for mines, quarries, subways, and underground workings, and more particularly to that type of signal employed for notlfylng workmen and the occupants of mines of the generation and accumulation of dangerous and explosive gases.-

The primary object of the invention is to provide positive and reliable means for producing a visible and audible signal in various parts of a mine, whereby the miners Wlll be immediately notified of the presence of explosive gases and can escape or take such steps as to liberate the explosive gases or counteract-the effect of an explosion.

Another object of this invention is to-provide a signal apparatus that can be easily and safely installed in various parts of a mine, the apparatus being simple, durable, free from injury by ordinary use and efficient as a safety factor for protecting lives and property.

With these and such other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be here; inafter specifically described and then claimed. v

Reference will now be had to the drawings forming a part of this specification, referred wherein there is illustrated the embodiment of the invention, butit is to be understood that the structural elements thereof can be varied or changed, as to the size, shape, and manner of assemblage without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of the signal apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan of a driven switch head forming a partof the apparatus. Fig. 3 isa vertica sectional view of a triple or four-way valve forming a part of the a aratus, and Fig. 4 is a 1plan of a modl ed form of compression cy inder.

In the accompanying drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes a board or suitable support adapted to be located in the entry or room of a mine. This board can be in closed by a casing or housing to prevent the mechanlsm mounted thereon from being injured by dust, water, or other matter.

2 denotes a triple or four-way valve body suitably mounted upon the board 1, the lower end of said valve body having inlet pipes 3 adapted to communicate with the various rooms or compartments of a mine. The upper end of the valve body 2 is provided with an outlet pipe 4 and in said body is revolubly mounted a plug 5 having a bypath- 6 adapted to establish communication between the ipes 3 and the pipe 4. The valve plug 5 as a stem 7 provided with a small gear wheel 8, the purposes of which will presently appear.

9 denotes an exhaust or suction fan carried by the board 1, said fan having the casing thereof connected to the pipe 4. The fan 9 is driven by the armature shaft 10 of a motor 11, carried by the board 1, said armagure shaft extending into the casing of the 12 denotes a compression cylinder carried by the board 1 and communicating with the fan casing 9 by a pipe 13. The cylinder 12 intermediate the ends thereof is provided with an exhaust pipe 14 and at the closed end thereof with a vertical cylinder 15 for a spring-pressed plunger 16, said plunger being normally retained in a loW- ered position by a spring 17 arranged within the cylinder 15 and encircling a lunger rod 18. The closed end of the cylin er 12 is also provided with a s arking or ignition device 19, and within t e cylinder is slidably mounted a piston head 20, said head being normally retained in proximity to the sparking device 19 'by a coiled spring interposed between the end of the piston head 20 and a rin 22 mounted upon the open end of the cy inder.

23 denotes a bracket carried by the board 1 and journaled in said bracket and the board 1 is a-shaft 24 and mounted upon said shaft is a large gear wheel '25 meshing with a worm 26 mounted upon the armature shaft 1O of the motor 11. The shaft 24: adjacent to the bracket 23 is provided with a switch head 27 havin i3W0' sets of o positely.disposed contactlocks 28 and a apted to engage these blocks are resilient brushes 29 carried by posts 30 and 30 secured to the bracket 23.

Formed integral with the switch head 27 is a disk 31 provided with a crank pin 32 and this pin is adapted to engage a crank 33 loosely mounted on the shaft 24, said crank being connected by a piston rod 34 to the piston head 20. The shaft 24 is provided with a gear wheel 34 adapted to mesh with the gear wheel 8 of the valve stem 7 denotes a switch arm pivotally connected to the board 1 above the plunger rod 18, said rod being arranged to be elevated by the plunger rod 18 to engage a contact 36. Suitable insulation material can he used in connection with the switch head 27 and the shaft 24,

37 denotes an electric bell or gong carried by the board 1 and constituting an audible signal.

38 denotes an incandescent lamp carried by the board 1 and constituting a visible signal.

39 denotes a suitable source of electrical energy, as a storage battery, said battery being located in proximity to the board 1, and 40 denotes an induction coil carried by the board 1 adjacent to the compression cylinder 12 The source of electrical energy 39 in some instances can be located outside of the mine and the electrical energy carried into the mine by suitable wires.

The electrical wiring between the various elements of the apparatus is as follows: The negativetpole- 41 of the battery 39 is connected by a wire 42 to the binding post 43 of the motor 11, by a wire 44 to the binding post 45 of the electric bell 37,. and by wire 46 to the binding post 47 of the induction coil 40. The positive pole 48 of the battery is connected by a wire 49 to the-switch arm 35, by a wire 50 to the post 30 and by a wire 51 to the binding post 52 of the motor 11, the last mentioned wire being tapped onto the wire 50. The post 3O" is connected by a wire 53 to the binding post 54 of the induction coil, and said induction coil is connected by wires 55to the ignition or sparking device 19 of the compression cylinder 12. The contact 36 is connected by a wire 56 to the electrical bell and by-a wire 57 to the lamp 38. This lamp is connected by a wire 58 to the wire 44. Suitable switches 59 can be installed upon the board 1 for controlling the operation of the apparatus, and suitable insulation can be pro-- vided where necessary.

Assuming that the apparatus is in operation and the motor 11 is driven by the battery 39, the armature. shaft 10 will operate the exhaust fan 9 and through the medium of the'worm 26 revolve the shaft 24. This shaft through the medium of the gear wheels 34 and 8 will rotate the valve plug 5 within the valve body 2, and as the said plug is rotated the fan 9 will exhaust gas from the pipes 3 and force the same to the compression cylinder 12, this being accomplished by the by-path 6 of the plug 5 establishing communication between the pipes 3' and the pipe 4. As the shaft 24 is revolved the crank pin 32 engages the crank 33 and moves the same in unison with the shaft 24 for a half a revolution, and it is this movement of the crank 33 with the shaft 24 that places the spring 21 under tension, whereby when the crank 33 travels above the shaft 24, the tension of the spring 21 will be immediately released and will carry thecrank 33 out of engagement with the pin 32. The shaft 24, disk 31, pin 32, and crank 33 constitute means for intermittently moving the piston head 20, and it is a rearward movement of the piston head 20 that allows gas from the the forward movement of the piston head compresses the gas at the closed end of the cylinder. If the gas is of a dangerous nature and contains ingredients that cause a detonation when brought in contact with a spark, the sparking or ignition device 19 will explode the gas within the cylinder 12, and it is this explosion that elevates the plunger 16 and causes the plunger rod 18 to elevate the switch arm 35 and complete a circuit through the audible and visible signals, thus notifying the miners or occupants of a mine that gas from one of the rooms or compartments thereof is of a dangerous nature, that the miner should immediately 'escape or that steps should be taken to exhaust the dangerous gas or counteract the effect of the same.

The switch head 27 is arranged whereby the sparking device will be operatedas each charge of gas is compressed within the closed end of the cylinder 12, and so long as the gas does not detonate within the cylinder 12, it

will escape through the exhaust pipe 14 when the piston head 20 is moved rear- Wardly.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings there is illustrated a modification inconnection with the compression cylinder 12, wherein the-piston rod 34 is provided with a cross-head 60 and this cross-head is connected by 'retractile springs 61 'to arms 62 projecting from the closed end of the cylinder 12, thus obviating the necessity of placing a coiled spring within the open end of the compression cylinder.

.From the foregoing it will be observed that I have devised a signal apparatus wherein novel means are employed for exhausting gases from a mine, testing the gases to determine their explosive properties, and utilizing a detonation of the gas to produce an audible or visible-signal, the mechanism employed for these purposes being compactly arranged and easily maintained in pipe 13 to pass into the cylinder 12, while tion of sai an operatable condition irrespective of atmospheric conditions within a mine.

What I claim, is:

1. In a signal apparatus for mines, an exhaust fan for removing gas from mines, means for compressing said gas, means for detonating said gas, and means for utilizing the detonation of said gas to produce a signal.

2. In a signal apparatus for mines, an exhaust fan for removing gas from mines, means for compressing said gas, electrical means for. causing a detonation of said gas, and electrical means for utilizing the detonation of said gas to produce an audible and visible signal.

3. In a signal apparatus for mines, an electrically driven fan for exhausting gas from mines, electrically driven means for placing said gas under compression, an electrically operated sparking device for deto nating said as, means actuated by a detona- 5 gas, and electrical means in connection with the last mentioned means for producing an audible and visible signal.

4. In a signal apparatus for mines, an electrically driven fan for exhausting gas from mines, electrically driven means for placing said gas under compression, an electrically operated sparking device for detonating said gas, means actuated by a detonation of said gas, and electrical means in connection with the last mentioned means for producing an audible and visible signal said means including a suitable source of electrical energy, and electric bell and lamp adapted to be placed in circuit with said source of electrical energy.

5. In a signal apparatus for mines, the combination with a compression cylinder, of means for intermittently supplying gas to said cylinder from various parts of a mine, electrical means for compressing said gas within said cylinder, an electrically operated sparking device for exploding the said gas within said cylinder, and means-actuated by a detonation of said gas for producing a signal.

6. In a'signal apparatus for mines, the combination with a compression cylinder,

of means-for intermittently supplying as to said cylinder from various parts of a mine, electrical means for compressing said gas within said cylinder, an electrically operated sparking device for exploding the said gas within said cylinder, and means actuated by a detonation of said gas for producing a signal, said means including a suitable source of electrical energy, a bell, a lamp, and a switch actuated by a detonation of said gas for placing said bell and lamp in circuit with said source of electrical energy.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two- Witnesses.

e ANTON GROHS. 

